Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-10
GOLD In CALIFORNIA.
Another First Discoverer of the Precious
Metal in this State.

First Discoverer of the Precious
Metal in this State.
Claimants to the honor of having been
the first discoverer of gold in California,
says an exchange, like the heirs to the
Blythe estate, multiply apace. The most
recent aspirant to this distinction is one
Thomas Monroe, who, according to state
ments recently published in a Montana
paper, arrived in California overland from
Missouri in the fall of 1915.
Having disposed of the goods brought
with him, Mr. Monroe, it would appear,
determined to prospect for gold, being con-
WINGED from his experience in the lead
mines of Illinois that this was mineral
country. In pursuance of this purpose, he
explored the coast for 700 miles, having in
the course of his travels encountered some
of the Jesuit Fathers, who assured him
that there actually was god in the country.
Before returning to Missouri, which he did
the following summer, our adventurer
managed to obtain quantity Of gold-dust,
after reaching home. Whether this gold
dust was obtained by digging or in the
course OF trade does not appear. In con-
trmation Of the foregoing, we are further
informed that this Thomas Monroe in re-
lating what he had seen while in Califor-
MIA, described many localities and objects
which were afterward identified, tending
to verify the truthfulness of his statements.
Among other things so seen and described
by him was Suffers Fort and the sawmill,
in the race of which Marshall two years
later picked up the first nugget of gold.
That this gentleman from Pike was able to
see and describe Suffers sawmill year
before it was built, or even commenced,
may be accounted for on the supposition
that he possessed the gift of provision.
Promising that there can be no doubt
about Thomas Monroe's having visited
California at the time ard in the manner
mentioned, and that by some means he OBJ
tanned while here quantity of gold-dust,
a brief examination of his narrative, or
rather perhaps it should be said the nara
tive which others have framed for him.
will, we think, serve to explain where that
gold-dust came from, as well as the manner
in which he probably procured it. Evil
IDENTIFY Monroe on reaching this coast
turned his course toward the south, since
only by going in that direction could he
After a time he reaches Los Angeles, the
Journey he had made, travelling in the
manner he did, having seemed to him, we
may well believe, fully 700 miles in length.
Here, disposing of his goods, he received
in part payment thereof the gold-dust in
question, the remainder having been paid
in bronchos, Il band of which he took with
him on his return to Missouri.
For number of years prior to the
period of which we are speaking, small lots
of gold-dust had been gathered in the San
Fernando mountains, 20 miles north Of
Los Angeles at which place this gold-dust
found market. If our Missourian ever
dug any gold. it was beyond question in
these San Fernando placers; the probable
tiles being that he never collected any Of
the precious metal with his own hands OF
even so much as saw the place whence il
came. The value of gold-dust was at that
day well established in Los Angeles, where
it passed currently at SIG per ounce, about
the price Of broncho. Clearly to Oul
mind, Thomas Monroe received for the
goods he sold in California part payment
in gold-dust and the balance in buckine
horses.
If the hero of this story prospected the
coast for 700 miles, as his chronicler re.
lates he must have done his work in q
very hurried manner, seeing he was in the
country only about year, and this in
Guided the winter months. when not much
could have been accomplished in that line
of business. The prospecting he did was
from his covered wagon as he journeyed
through the valleys on his way south.
That he heard a good deal about these
San Fernando diggings it is natural to
suppose, as he would be very likely when
he received this gold-dust to inquire where
it came from, and would be Just as likely
to be told by the natives that these pla-
GERS whence it came we're rich and extern
sive, such having been the account given
of them by the department officials in their
reports to the Mexican government.
Of the many who have contested with
James w. Marshall the honor of having
been the first discoverer of gold in Cali
fornia, the claim advanced in behalf OF
Thomas Monroe seems to us about the
most flimsy. As to Marshall has been
awarded this honor, so is he likely to COR
tinue in its undisturbed enjoyment, ex-
cept, perhaps in 50 far as it ought to be
shared in part with his associates John A.
Suffer and Peter WINNER. As regards
the placers discovered and worked here at
an earlier day, they were so unimportant
compared with the Marshall find that
they have by common consent been ignored
as unworthy of mention.